Since the show I've been directly targeting Quaid's separation anxiety. It really wasn't rocket science. What I'm doing is brining both horses in when I ride. So one is in the ring and one is in the stall. It's been a bit of PITA, to be honest, but has shown some interesting things.
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| fall colours are coming out |
As expected, Quaid was a bit tense the first few times. Also, as expected, both horses are better being the ones leaving vs being left. There were a lot of sad whinnies. And a few outraged ones (looking at you Carmen).
Surprisingly, Carmen is the one struggling the most with this. Like she is not a fan at all. Quaid's crying is causing her all sorts of tension and worry. Even when he's quiet, she's more tense. I say that this is surprising because she seems totally okay with this when we travel. But it's possible/probable that it bothered her more than I realised.
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Qaid: 'DON'T LEAVE ME!
Carmen: be brave and I'll be back. Probably.
Also, don't eat all the hay while I'm gone. |
She is just now starting to settle a bit. It helps that that whinnying has died down significantly.
Quaid, however, seems to be better with it. At least when being ridden. After a couple tense rides he's settled into work like everything is fine. When Carmen whinnies, he cocks an ear and that's it. He is struggling more with being left but is doing way better. There is much less calling.
I feel that, at the very least, they will learn to ignore the calling when we travel. It's a theory, anyway, so don't burst my bubble.
Some other interesting things have happened too. I've noticed that both of them are much more attached to me even when I'm out doing other things. Especially Quaid. He'll come trotting up to the fence when he sees me.
The other thing is that they have figured out that one of them will be locked up so when I bring in one. It use to be that whoever I haltered, the other would follow. Now the other tries to stay out in the field.
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| I'm fine here. Really. Carry on. |
When I go to get them they come right in but it's kinda cute. Every now and then I leave one out to see if they become fixated. So far they do not.
Is this the answer? Hard to tell until we go somewhere and I ride them separately. But it is helping my rides at home. So we'll see.
Glad the new system seems to be working!!
ReplyDeleteMe too. Even though it’s extra work.
DeleteI’m working on the same thing. It is so natural for them to get attached that it is probably something we will always be working on. Cowboy, my former horse, was the least herd bound, but he was also the omega and was often alone in the herd. I don’t think it was by his choice. Sad for him, but good for me. Anyway, with most horses it is a constant consideration. My poor trailer has taken the brunt of it. And I worry that it will get better only to start all over again next spring.
ReplyDeleteThat is my concern as well. But I’ll cross that bridge when I get to it. Sorry about the trailer!
DeleteInteresting. I admire your ability to try new things to root out a problem.
ReplyDeleteYou’re the same.
DeleteThunder has this absurd thing where whenever we go to a show with another horse he falls MADLY AND WILDLY IN LOVE with that horse and then screams for them the entire show. Showing alone? No problemo. Sounds like your solution is an excellent one!
ReplyDeleteThe least herdbound horse I've ever had is Lancey, probably because he was a bottle-raised orphan. He's never much cared for other horsies.
I know I’m not alone. Which is good. I think.
DeleteOh yes, madly and wildly yessiree. I'm just riding down the trail and we encounter another horse and Mad and Wild love FOREVER kicks in and wth come on you pitiful thing. Never could lick that issue.
DeleteSuch a reasonable plan! I do similar and the boys are both good - Sophie, like Carmen, still ha a thing or two to say about it (but the stress levels are definitely improving for her too)
ReplyDeleteThat’s great that the boys are so good about it.
DeleteI wonder if only having a couple of horses like most of us do, that herd bound is more prevalent. Gussie hated to leave her friends, such a nervous hauler- always sweated up and unhappy, but once we got to our destination she was fine. Riding around the farm was worse than riding away from home. She is pretty happy now to be retired from riding and living out her days in a good sized group of mares at Shayla's.
ReplyDeleteYour two will figure out the routine in no time! Hope it works well for you and them.
I agree with you. I think if I had them around more horses it would be easier. But I am hopeful that this will work.
DeleteFrom both other bloggers and my next door neighbors who have exactly 3 horses, it's no better than 2. No no no, do not take one away from the other 2. They scream the entire time for their friend, and my house is right here next to them and I have to turn the TV up to hear it. Slight exaggeration. I don't understand the number of horses required to keep the left-behind ones to stop screaming. I just know that 3 is not the safe number.
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